Science Heroes Home Page > Lindsay Brisbin

Lindsay Brisbin

OMSI: Where were you born? Where did you grow up?

LB: Born in Portland and grew up in Oregon City...have lived on same plot of land my whole life.

OMSI: What three words best describe you?

LB: Curious: my track coach nicknamed me Jeopardy because I ask so many questions. Funny: I love to make people laugh. Perfectionist: I have to have things a certain way and I keep working until I reach my standards. According to my parents, I would not turn in an assignment in 1st grade until I had thoroughly decorated the borders of the paper.

OMSI: As a child, did you have any hobbies, interests, or experiences that helped prepare you for success in science?

LB: When I was in 4th or 5th grade, my dad would bring home specimens from the high school anatomy class he taught. We would sit down together and dissect them and he explained what I could see. To this day, we might still have a pig's heart or cow's eyeball in our outdoor freezer.

OMSI: Please tell us about a mentor or teacher who helped to inspire your interest in science.

LB: My high school advanced chemistry teacher, Peggy Bromley, really inspired my interest in science. Before coming to Oregon City, she taught chemistry in Africa and she showed me that women could be successful in science.

OMSI: What's the worst trouble you ever got into in school? Have you ever blown anything up?

LB: The only time I got in trouble at school was in grade school. I got in trouble from the janitor for throwing away raisins from my trail mix then taking a handful of chocolate chips out to the playground. He even sent me to the principal's office for this!

Last summer at the Naval Research Laboratory I was working with two scientists who were notorious for causing the fire alarm to go off in their lab which evacuated the entire building. While I was working there, we were making fast curing resins which we mixed then poured into a mould for testing. Well, one of the resins got a little too hot and as we were pouring it out. It suddenly started to turn black and sent up a huge mushroom cloud of smoke. Obviously the building had to be evacuated yet again, hehehe.

OMSI: What is your favorite class this year?

LB: Mathematical and Computational Methods in Materials Science.

OMSI: What is your dream? What do you most hope to accomplish in your career?

LB: I'm really not sure what I want to do after I graduate with my master's degree. However, I hope to be a successful professional in some scientific field eventually. I want to provide a good example for other young women because we need more women in technological fields.

OMSI: How do you feel about the current state of science education in the U.S.?

LB: The one unfortunate aspect about science education in the U.S. is the lack of women studying in various scientific disciplines. Many of my Engineering classes have roughly 10% women. We need to encourage more girls and young women to pursue studies and careers in technological fields.

OMSI: What do you like to do in your free time?

LB: Read novels! My favorite genres are fantasy and also historical fiction set in England in the 18 and 19th centuries. I also spend a lot of time socializing with friends.

OMSI: What do you consider your very best skill?

LB: I think my best skill is that I never quit. Both in academics and track, I've worked hard to get ahead and haven't given up even when things don't go as well as I would like.

OMSI: Please tell us about your educational plans and goals.

LB: This quarter I will be applying for a coterminal program in Materials Science and Engineering. The program allows students to spend their fourth and fifth years taking classes for both their bachelors and masters degrees concurrently. It's a great opportunity to get both a B.S. and M.S. in only 5 years instead of 6!

OMSI: Have you had any on the job training or science related work experience?

LB: NRL-Naval Research Laboratory, Washington D.C., Summer 2003
Selected as an intern to perform research in the Marine Coatings department through program sponsored by Office of Naval Research. Worked to develop a new solvent-free resin coating for marine and industrial uses. Gained experience with tensile test.

OMSI - Oregon Museum of Science and Industry, Portland, OR, Summer 2002 & 2001, December 2001
Employee in visitor services working at the front desk, selling tickets/memberships, group greeter, switchboard, submarine, planetarium, OMNIMAX, Chemistry Lab, working with the public, including public speaking presenting technical science information to large audiences.

OMSI-Chemistry Lab Intern, Summer 2000
Sole apprentice selected in 2000 to work at OMSI for Apprenticeship in Science and Engineering sponsored through Saturday Academy, Oregon.

Graduate Institute of Science and Technology, Portland, OR
Created new hands-on experiments for use by the general public in the Chemistry Lab .

AWSEM-Advocates for Women in Science, Engineering & Math, 10/99-4/00, 10/00-4/01
Junior High Club Leader through Saturday Academy and Clackamas Education Service District, Marylhurst, OR. Organized & lead science experiments & math activities for junior high students and planned site visits to expose students to science, engineering & math careers for women.